22-04-2020
20:44
Turkey reports 117 new COVID-19 deaths
People wearing a protective facemask shop at a street market in Ankara, on April 22, 2020. Photo: Adem A
Turkey reported 117 new COVID-19 deaths on Wednesday evening, bringing the total death toll to the country to 2,376.
Another 3083 people tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Wednesday, rising the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases to 98,674, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Twitter.
Koca added that 1559 people have recovered from the virus over the past 24 hours.
So far, 16,477 coronavirus patients have recovered from the virus in Turkey.
A total of 750,944 tests have been conducted across the country since the pandemic began.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, 1814 patients are being treated in intensive care units across the country.
By Lawk Ghafuri
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Another 3083 people tested positive for the novel coronavirus on Wednesday, rising the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases to 98,674, Health Minister Fahrettin Koca said on Twitter.
Koca added that 1559 people have recovered from the virus over the past 24 hours.
So far, 16,477 coronavirus patients have recovered from the virus in Turkey.
A total of 750,944 tests have been conducted across the country since the pandemic began.
According to data from the Ministry of Health, 1814 patients are being treated in intensive care units across the country.
By Lawk Ghafuri
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20:40
Iraq sees 29 new COVID-19 cases
Iraqi men sit chatting in an alley in central Baghdad, after measures of social distancing were eased by the authorities, ahead of the fasting month of Ramadan, on April 22, 2020. Photo: Sabah Arar/ AFP
Iraqi authorities recorded 29 new COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, according to the health ministry.
Twelve cases were documented in the capital Baghdad, six cases in Basra province, six cases in Dhi Qar, three cases in Najaf, and two cases in Babil.
No deaths were recorded over the past 24 hours in Iraq.
Fifty people have recovered, including 17 in Erbil, nine in Baghdad, eight in Karbala, four in Najaf, four in Kirkuk, three in Dhi Qar, two in Wasit, one in Sulaimani, one in Basra, and one in Saladin.
This brings the total number of the cases in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to 1631. Of these, 83 have died and 1146 have recovered.
By Lawk Ghafuri Continue Reading
Twelve cases were documented in the capital Baghdad, six cases in Basra province, six cases in Dhi Qar, three cases in Najaf, and two cases in Babil.
No deaths were recorded over the past 24 hours in Iraq.
Fifty people have recovered, including 17 in Erbil, nine in Baghdad, eight in Karbala, four in Najaf, four in Kirkuk, three in Dhi Qar, two in Wasit, one in Sulaimani, one in Basra, and one in Saladin.
This brings the total number of the cases in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to 1631. Of these, 83 have died and 1146 have recovered.
By Lawk Ghafuri Continue Reading
18:21
Mosques and churches in Kurdistan Region to remain closed as Ramadan approaches: health ministry
File photo: Bilind T. Abdullah / Rudaw
The Kurdistan Region's mosques and churches will remain closed as the Muslim holy month of Ramadan fast approaches, the regional government's health ministry has announced.
With observers of Ramadan usually gathering to break daytime fasts and for congregational prayers, WHO published a string of recommendations last week to urge for maintenance of social distancing measures through the month.
"Cancelling social and religious gatherings should be seriously considered...If cancelling social and religious gatherings, where possible, virtual alternatives using platforms such as television, radio, digital, and social media can be used instead. If Ramadan gatherings are allowed to proceed, measures to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission should be implemented," according to the guidance document.
Recommendations include maintaining physical distance of at least metre between people at all times, using greetings that avoid physical contact, and stopping large numbers of people from gathering at Ramadan-related activities. People at high-risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19, including the elderly and people with pre-existing medical conditions, should be urged not to attend any group gathering, according to the guidance document.
Active COVID-19 cases are continuing to shrink in the Kurdistan Region, with Erbil's provincial health department announcing 11 new recoveries from the coronavirus on Wednesday, the news was later confirmed by the Region's health ministry.
Of the Kurdistan Region's 337 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 304 have resulted in recovery and four in death. There now remain 29 active COVID-19 cases across the Region.
By Lawk Ghafuri
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With observers of Ramadan usually gathering to break daytime fasts and for congregational prayers, WHO published a string of recommendations last week to urge for maintenance of social distancing measures through the month.
"Cancelling social and religious gatherings should be seriously considered...If cancelling social and religious gatherings, where possible, virtual alternatives using platforms such as television, radio, digital, and social media can be used instead. If Ramadan gatherings are allowed to proceed, measures to mitigate the risk of COVID-19 transmission should be implemented," according to the guidance document.
Recommendations include maintaining physical distance of at least metre between people at all times, using greetings that avoid physical contact, and stopping large numbers of people from gathering at Ramadan-related activities. People at high-risk of serious illness and death from COVID-19, including the elderly and people with pre-existing medical conditions, should be urged not to attend any group gathering, according to the guidance document.
Active COVID-19 cases are continuing to shrink in the Kurdistan Region, with Erbil's provincial health department announcing 11 new recoveries from the coronavirus on Wednesday, the news was later confirmed by the Region's health ministry.
Of the Kurdistan Region's 337 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 304 have resulted in recovery and four in death. There now remain 29 active COVID-19 cases across the Region.
By Lawk Ghafuri
Continue Reading
13:54
Iran records 1,194 new COVID-19 cases in 24 hours: health ministry
A woman wearing a mask waits for the bus in Tehran on April 21, 2020 amid the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic. Photo: Atta Kenare/ AFP
New figures from the Iranian Ministry of Health confirmed 1,194 new coronavirus cases and 94 deaths as of noon on Wednesday.
The revised toll takes the total number of cases to 85,996 across Iran, with 5,391 deaths and 63,113 recoveries.
Iran was the regional epicenter of the coronavirus before being overtaken by Turkey earlier this week, which has recorded more than 95,000 infections.
Despite a high number of cases, Tehran has stopped short of imposing the full lockdown measures seen in other countries. Schools, universities, mosques, and government offices remain closed, although some businesses in Tehran have been allowed to reopen in recent days.
More than 100,000 prisoners have also been temporarily released from prisons across the country, a move which was extended on Tuesday to May 20. The furlough has largely excluded political prisoners, drawing criticism from human rights monitors.
10:38
Iraq repatriates 1,000 nationals from abroad in 24 hours
An employee sanitises passenger seats inside an aircraft at Hamad International Airport in Doha, Qatar, April 1, 2020. File photo: Karim Jaafar / AFP
Over the past 24 hours, 1,027 Iraqi nationals have been repatriated from abroad having been left stranded after governments worldwide imposed COVID-19 containment measures.
They were returned on six “exceptional direct flights” provided by Iraqi Airways – two out of Amman, one out of Muscat, one out of Tehran, one out of Baku, and one out of Cairo.
Iraq’s transport minister Abdulla Luaibi announced the news in a Facebook post on Wednesday morning.
On Saturday, Iraq’s Civil Aviation Authority extended its commercial flight ban until April 24. Flights have been grounded since March 17.
Special flights were arranged by foreign diplomatic missions in Iraq and the Kurdistan Region to bring home expats living and working in the region. Ticket prices for these services were often massively inflated.
Governments have advised against all foreign travel while the world battles the COVID-19 outbreak. The airline and tourist industries have been especially hard hit by the containment measures.
By Zhelwan Z. Wali
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09:52
Health officials against ‘complete lifting of curfew’ in Kurdistan Region
Men ride bicycles in front of the Erbil citadel, April 12, 2020. Photo: Safin Hamed / AFP
COVID-19 continues to pose a threat to the public and it is still too soon to completely lift lockdown measures designed to contain the virus, the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) health ministry said Tuesday evening.
“We can only say the coronavirus has ended in the Kurdistan Region when there are no new cases recorded for 28 consecutive days, according to the World Health Organization’s regulations,” Mohammed Qadir, the KRG health ministry spokesman, told Rudaw.
“We are never in favor of a complete lifting of the curfew,” he added.
Of the 337 cases of COVID-19 confirmed in the Kurdistan Region, 292 people have recovered and four have died. There remain 41 active cases.
It has been several days since the Kurdistan Region last recorded any new cases, leading the government to relax some of the lockdown measures.
Duhok authorities have already declared the province virus-free.
“We are pleased to say that we have coped very well with the subject of coronavirus until now and it is under control... But it does not mean that we should ignore the health instructions,” Qadir said.
“There are some serious protection measures that must be implemented and any lifting of the curfew must be done on a phased basis.”
“Public gatherings, including at bazaars and schools, must be allowed to open only at the very last phase given that they are where people come into unlimited contacts with each other,” he added.
By Zhelwan Z. Wali
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09:50
April 22: Latest COVID-19 updates from the Kurdistan Region and beyond
Displaced Syrian boys pose while wearing face masks decorated by artists during a COVID-19 awareness campaign at the Bardaqli camp in Dana, Idlib province, April 20, 2020. Photo: Aaref Watad / AFP
How are you coping under the lockdown? Send your comments and photos to our Facebook and Twitter pages.
The Kurdistan Regional Government advises anyone in the Kurdistan Region displaying coronavirus symptoms to call its emergency hotline on 122. This service is available in Kurdish and Arabic 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. More information can be found on the government’s website.
Catch up on past updates here
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The Kurdistan Regional Government advises anyone in the Kurdistan Region displaying coronavirus symptoms to call its emergency hotline on 122. This service is available in Kurdish and Arabic 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. More information can be found on the government’s website.
Catch up on past updates here
Continue Reading